Summer camp program seeks to create ‘guardians of the garden’

Children will plant seeds, pull weeds, tend to vegetables in project garden.

Terri Chatfield (left) from the Ohio State University Extension program works with Baile Gregory, 11, planting rows of beans as part of the Robert “Sonny” Hill Community Center summer camp program. The center has two garden plots where they grow flowers and vegetables.

Staff photo by Marie Rossiter Terri Chatfield (left) from the Ohio State University Extension program works with Baile Gregory, 11, planting rows of beans as part of the Robert “Sonny” Hill Community Center summer camp program. The center has two garden plots where they grow flowers and vegetables.

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By Marie Rossiter, Staff Writer 11:38 PM Thursday, July 1, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — A small group of children spill out of the Robert “Sonny” Hill Community Center on a gorgeous Tuesday morning, June 29, eager for the day’s events at their summer camp program.

They aren’t getting ready to play baseball or soccer, though. Instead, they will plant seeds, pull weeds and tend to the flowers and vegetables that are growing in the center’s garden.

“Gardening is cool because you get to have fun and enjoy new experiences,” said 11-year-old Tyrece Colson, a first-time gardener.

The project is part of the Ohio State University’s Extension, a program that helps homeowners and community groups enhance the value of their homes and communities through gardens and other home-landscaping projects. Terri Chatfield, a Master Gardener and program assistant for at OSU Extension Butler County, said the gardening program introduces a variety of new ideas and experiences to the 62 children enrolled.

“They learn about parts of the plant, what makes them grow, safety precautions and more,” Chatfield said. “We also incorporate math through measurements and nutritional information by exposing children to new vegetables they may never tried before. When they are involved, they are more likely to give something new a try.”

Molly Brown, 11, buried her hands in the dirt surrounding a row of just sprouting sweet corn.

“They have to be straight,” she said of the delicate plant as she moved it back to its proper place. “If they’re not straight, then they won’t grow right.”

The center has two 25-by-25-foot plots where they are growing sunflowers, herbs, sweet corn, a variety of beans and more.

“We’ve done this before, but only with flowers,” said Community Center Coordinator Ceal Thompson. “We are so fortunate to be able to have so much more this year with the vegetables. We plan to share this harvest with members of the community.”

OSU Extension Program Assistant Jackie Lankfur said the program is cultivating more than vegetables.

“We hope to create what we like to call ‘Guardians of the Garden,” Lankfur said. “We want them to feel a sense of ownership and ultimately take responsibility for what happens here.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or mrossiter@coxohio.com.

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